This is the Truth Network. Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Clearfield Community Church invites your kids and grandkids to their free Rainforest Falls Vacation Bible School coming up Friday, June 12th from 4 to 8.30 p.m. and Saturday, June 13th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Just west of Ogden.
Your kids will enjoy games, crafts, and Bible stories where kids will learn that Jesus is our Creator, our refuge, and so much more. And by the way, this is all free. To sign up, just go to Clearfield Community Church.org and click on the VBS tab at the top of the website. You can also call the church and ask for Jennifer. One more time, sign up for the Friday, June 12th, and Saturday, June 13th Vacation Bible School at Clearfield Community Church, located at 525 East 200 South in Clearfield, Utah.
I want to thank Kevin McGehe for his amazing Gift of his instrumental music that he provides for us for the Passion for Christ program. Kevin is a wonderful friend. And so thank you, Kevin, for the music. That you've provided for us for the program, as you hear that in the beginning, in the middle, and the end of Passion for Christ. I have another song that I'd like you to Be aware of.
This was written by a man named Pat Melfi. And I don't even exactly know the name of the artist who sung this, but it's a powerful song. It's called When Mercy. Met me. and I believe that it fits so well with Passion for Christ.
It's the message that we want you to know about. And so Sit back and listen to this amazing song. I know it will bless your heart. And so, here it is, When Mercy Met Me, written by Pat Melfie. Uh I was running.
And always running. From the things I couldn't face Carried shame like a shadow Wore a grin like it had a name I heard the truth A thousand times. I'm sorry. But never saw it. Could be mine till the Silence.
It's in my soul. Cried out one. Last time that's when moved Mercy met me on the ground where I had fallen. Love reached out through the wreckage and called me by my name. Christ didn't flinch when it saw my scars.
It wrapped me up in open arms. I was lost, but now I see everything changed when mercy met me. I brought nothing to the table, just the mess I made of me. But you saw more than failure. You saw who I could be.
You didn't wait for me to rise. You came down into my fight, held my heart and hoped. Holy hands and gave me back my life. That's when mercy led me on the ground where I had fallen. Love reached out through the wreckage and called me by my name.
Grace didn't flinch when it's all my scars and wrapped me up in open arms. I was lost, but now I see everything changed when mercy led me.
Now I stand where grace has led chains behind me, hope ahead if he could save.
Someone like me, he can save you too. Come and see this is where mercy meets you. Right here where you've been hiding, love is waiting in the silence. Calling out your name. Grace won't flinch when it sees your scars.
It'll hold you close in open arms. Come as you are, come and believe. Everything changes when mercy meets you. I was lost, but now I see everything changed when mercy met me. That song again was written by a friend of mine named Pat Melfie.
And I appreciate your prayers for the ministry here in Utah. In light of a new friend here, Pat Melfie, who represents the Imperials. You may remember the Imperials. The Lord's used their music for many, many years, going back to the 70s and 80s. And I appreciate your prayers because we're trusting the Lord that possibly as Pat represents the Imperials.
That we might be able to have a concert here in Utah. And so appreciate your prayers and any interest you might even have in this and helping to sponsor. A concert by the Imperials coming out here to Utah. I would greatly appreciate that. And so, it may be if you're listening here in Utah and you think your church would get behind this and want to help support it by getting tickets for it and just showing some interest and helping with volunteers for the event as we're planning it right now.
And maybe you'd like to be on kind of a committee for that. I just think music is such a powerful tool that the Lord has used. You look at the whole book of Psalms, you know, so much of it is music. And so, as we begin this. Episode of Passion for Christ, I just thought that the music of that song, When Mercy Met Me.
Is so powerful. For somebody who comes out of a religious background like in Mormonism, we have to remember that there there's such a different stance that is that is portrayed or or is presented when it comes to mercy. Sadly, Joseph Smith changed Romans 4:5. He says that God justifies not the ungodly. You see, so.
So the whole idea of what mercy involves is is really not there. And it's all a performance. I hate to tell you this, my friends, but if you're listening and you're a part of this religious group. you're being s sold something that sounds like Christianity and may even have some morals. That seem to resonate with Christian ideals and so on, but it's really binding you back to the law where you're.
You're it's a schoolmaster. It's showing you that you are in need of forgiveness. It shows that you are in need of mercy. And so So don't discount what Jesus did on the cross. Please.
Realize that what Jesus did on the cross is is more than sufficient more than efficient to Take away your sin. Jesus trades his righteousness. for our sin. Jesus just wants you To acknowledge your sin and And to What? Forgiveness.
He wants to invite you into a relationship with him. We'll be right back for the rest of today's testimony. Please know we at Utah Partnerships for Christ have been planting seeds of the gospel in Utah for over 24 years. We welcome any questions you may have and invite you to visit our website to obtain a list of words and definitions that would help you understand how Mormons think and how to be able to better witness to your friends who belong to the Mormon Church. That website is www.upfc.org.
That's upfc.org. We'll be right back. Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God.
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. That song, again, was written by a friend of mine named Pat Melfie. And I appreciate your prayers for the ministry here in Utah in light of a new friend here, Pat Melfie, who represents the Imperials. You may remember the Imperials. The Lord's used their music for many, many years, going back to the 70s and 80s.
And I appreciate your prayers because we're trusting the Lord that possibly as Pat represents the Imperials. That we might be able to have a concert here in Utah. And so appreciate your prayers and any interest that you might even have in this and helping to sponsor. A concert by the Imperials coming out here to Utah. I would greatly appreciate that.
And so, maybe if you're listening here in Utah and you think your church would get behind this and want to help support it by getting tickets for it and just showing some interest and helping with volunteers for the event as we're planning it right now, and maybe you'd like to be on kind of a committee for that. I just think music is such a powerful tool that the Lord has used. You look at the whole book of Psalms, you know, so much of it is music. And so, as we begin this episode of Passion for Christ, I just thought that the music of that song, When Mercy Met Me, Is so powerful. For somebody who comes out of a religious background like in Mormonism.
we have to remember that there there's such a different stance that is that is portrayed or is presented when it comes to mercy. Sadly, Joseph Smith changed Romans 4:5. He says that God justifies not the ungodly. You see, so.
So the whole idea of what mercy involves is is really not there. And it's all a performance. I hate to tell you this, my friends, but if you're listening and you're a part of this religious group. You're being s sold something that sounds like Christianity and may even have some morals. That seem to resonate with Christian ideals and so on, but it's really binding you back to the law where you're.
It's a schoolmaster. It's showing you that you are in need of forgiveness. It shows that you are in need of mercy. And so.
So don't discount what Jesus did on the cross. Please. realize that what Jesus did on the cross is more than sufficient. More than efficient. To Take away your sin.
Jesus trades his righteousness For our sin. To acknowledge your sin and And to What Forgiveness. He wants to invite you into a relationship with him. It's on his terms. It's not on our terms.
It's not through a temple, it's not through any other man. Only The God Man. God the Son, Jesus Christ.
So learn of him. Open up. the Bible and read about him. the Book of John. Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Read the book of Acts. Read the book of Romans. Read Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome and in Corinth. and to the Galatians. and to the Ephesians and to the Colossians and the Philippians.
Read about Peter. Peter's account of knowing Christ and writing to the Christians. Read about what James has to say, what the Apostle John talks about in 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and then the book of Revelation. Ask the Lord. into your life right now.
Ask him to forgive you. Just put your belief and trust in him. He will save you. He will give you that assurance to know that you will be In heaven with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Now, I would like to give you an opportunity to be encouraged. If you have an interest in Maybe you don't think there's life after Mormonism. Maybe you think that. Wow, it's just going to be really difficult to share with my family this decision that maybe you've just made to put your faith in Christ alone to become a born-again Christian.
Well, I want to encourage you, if you're listening, As to a kind of a kind of a pre-coaching questionnaire that we have on our website, up. Fc.org. And so I would be so blessed and privileged to go through these things with you. Uh you'll find I have Written up just seven sessions. And the first session is: I would talk with you about your background of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or being a Mormon.
So, I would want to get to know you. I'd want to find out what have you appreciated about. Being a part of that religious system. There might be some things that you genuinely, you had some. good relationships with people.
Um What kind of things did you loathe? What kind of things just were so upsetting to you and troubling. What didn't seem right? Uh just taking some some random questions uh from you. I would like to just learn about what's maybe the top three things that are of concern for you right now.
And um I would like to just give you some sort of homework. like maybe to watch a couple sermons. Or some messages like from Godlovesmormons.com. I would just recommend. that you were to watch those and then email me your reactions uh to to those Messages We could figure that out.
What would make good sense for you to watch and check out? The next session we would do. In this life after Mormonism, life coaching, if you will. I'm not a licensed coach, but I've had a lot of years living in Utah, about 30 years living here, and the Lord saved me out of the LDS church. And so my heart is truly for.
anyone, um, but But, you know, particularly with those who Are wanting a relationship with God, but they've. But kind of kind of there's just handcuffed to a religious system, But takes away From who Jesus truly is. And I say that with all sincerity and not any spirit of contention. But going on to s to session two, I would like to share with you some other conversion stories of those coming out of Islam or Jehovah's Witnesses and other Mormons and show that you're not alone. I would want to read some things with you about what happens when somebody defects from their country of origin but becomes a citizen of another country.
Some of those things have some correlation, I think, to your journey, your situation. And it can be traumatic. It can be challenging at best. at the very least rather. Um but I would want to share with you how that you're in your case, if you become a born-again Christian out of Mormonism, that your citizenship now is in heaven.
And so I would want to You know, address the three things that we noted in the last session and just kind of go over that again and do some review. Um and then give some type of homework, if you will, just something else to to read or to to watch, and we could we could tailor that for you. Um and then A third session. if we wanted to continue, would be I'd want to talk with you about two biblical examples of those who are changed by the gospel and who live in a culture that is not friendly to Christianity.
So maybe somewhere in the Middle East or maybe China or other countries where that's a a major challenge. I would want us to both learn how they deal with that. Share verses about the nature of God. Also, kind of dive into some theology. Understanding the nature of God.
Isaiah 43:10. Uh is one example. Such an amazing verse. I've I've got that in a uh like a fifteen hundreds. Page of a Bible that I was able to acquire, and just going back before the King James, even when we had the English Bible and other editions, and just to really bring out God's strength and the power of who God is.
There's no other gods out there. The power of what Christ did on the cross and how There's justification and then there's sanctification.
So we'll talk about cultivating that relationship with God through prayer and worshiping God through music, fellowshipping with other Christians, serving at a church, not under compulsion. Like in order to do that, you know, then you get to go to the temple and do a bunch of ceremonies and things like that, ordinances. It's like, no, the temple of Veil tore when Christ was on the cross. uh that that temple, the sacrificial system has been done away with. Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
He's the Passover Lamb.
So I'd want to talk with you about that. Talk about suffering. Talk about what that means as being a Christian. Reading His Word is what will replace the sense of loss, confusion, pain, and the sense of being deceived and burned by a religious institution. I I would want to emphasize that.
And then give some more homework and things to talk about on our next session, will be session four.
So going to session four. I would want to talk with you about where would you Possibly see yourself in the next three to six months, spiritually, socially, physically, emotionally, just. Kind of getting a little more personal here, though, but it's just important, I think, to look at the whole person and just talk about it and see if it makes sense to seek out possibly a doctor or maybe someone with dietitian dietary needs to be addressed. It'll help us determine how we can help, how I can help you. And maybe there's a a complimentary coach, somebody else out there, a counselor who might be Able to maybe help you in your situation.
Talk about some foundational blocks of Christianity. Again, the nature of God, the nature of man, the nature of sin, the nature of salvation, the nature of end times. We can do an overview of these things and see which of these things seem to really catch your interest and why, and give some more homework. Then sessions five. Talk about forgiveness.
What does it mean to try and resolve past hurts? How to deal with potential resentment? How to protect yourself and have boundaries, knowing how and when to reach out to others.
So we'd address three teachings about Mormonism as to why they're not Christian teachings. We'll talk about. Who and how they may be praying for, and how to reach those individuals with the gospel. How can you find your spiritual gifts and be involved in a local church and give some more homework? And we have two more sessions here.
Session number six. Um Resources to reinforce the claims of Christianity. We'll talk about csntm.org. We'll talk about trips to the Museum of the Bible, the Ark Encounter, Sights and Sounds Theater and Films in Branson, Missouri, trips to Greece, Footsteps of Paul. There's so many cool things.
That are out there to enhance and help your walk with the Lord grow.
So, types of Bibles, talk about authors of Christian living topics and music that will help you walk closer to the Lord.
So, maybe you're listening and you're a born-again Christian, you think this might be helpful to somebody who's coming out of the Mormon church. I would be privileged to talk with you more about this and let's talk about who you think could benefit from this.
So, we'll talk more about particular doctrines that we've already started on. We'll talk about Understand the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. And then talk about if they want to have maybe you'd want to have your name removed from the records of the Mormon church. That's a big step.
So the last one is to evaluate what has happened for the good over the last six sessions. Discuss what are still the most challenging facets of life away from Mormonism. What are they most encouraged by our sessions? Evaluate how to best move forward. How to identify markers of noting the Holy Spirit in your life and when it is the enemy.
How to find your identity in Christ and realize that temptation to sin will come in many forms, but that we can put on the armor of God from Ephesians and learn how to anticipate battles and how to stand in victory. This is Passion for Christ. We'll see you again next week. Thanks so much. Before we sign off for today, please know that all of us here at Utah Partnerships for Christ appreciate your prayers and support.
We are also available to do Zoom call workshops or personal coaching on reaching Mormons for Christ. Contact us today at upfc.org. That's upfc.org. Thanks so much for joining us on another edition of Passion for Christ.
